Detachable toilet seat mounting structure

ABSTRACT

A detachable toilet seat mounting structure is constructed to include a pivot shaft horizontally provided at a mounting plate at the top of a toilet bow, the pivot shaft having two reduced portions, and two knuckles provided at the rear side of a toilet seat for coupling to the pivot shaft to detachably pivotally secure the toilet seat to the mounting plate at the toilet bowl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to the mounting arrangement of a toilet seat for toilet and, more specifically, to a detachable toilet seat mounting structure.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A ballfloat toilet is generally comprised of a toilet bowl, a toilet seat fastened pivotally with the toilet bowl, a toilet seat lid pivoted to the toilet bowl and adapted to cover the toilet seat, and a water tank at the back side of the toilet bowl. There are ballfloat toilets equipped with spring means or a motor drive that automatically lifts the toilet seat after leaving of the user using the toilet. However, because the toilet seat is not detachable, it is difficult to clean the connection area between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl thoroughly, and the connection area between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl may be covered with dirt that may contaminate the user.

[0005]FIG. 1 shows a toilet seat mounting structure according to the prior art. As illustrated, the toilet bowl has a mounting plate 80 at the rear side and a plurality of knuckles 82 at the mounting plate 80; the toilet seat 90 has a plurality of knuckles 92 aligned at the rear side and pivotally connected between the knuckles 82 at the mounting plate 80 by a pivot bolt 70. According to this design, it is difficult to remove the toilet seat 90 from the mounting plate 80 for cleaning.

[0006] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a detachable toilet seat mounting structure, which enables the user to easily detach the toilet seat from the toilet bowl without any tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat mounting structure, which enables the toilet seat to be conveniently and detachably fastened to the toilet bowl. It is another object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat mounting structure, which enables the toilet seat and the toilet bowl to be conveniently and well washed, preventing contamination.

[0008] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the detachable toilet seat mounting structure comprises a pivot shaft horizontally provided at a mounting plate at the top of a toilet bow, the pivot shaft having two reduced portions, and two knuckles provided at the rear side of a toilet seat for coupling to the pivot shaft to detachably pivotally secure the toilet seat to the mounting plate at the toilet bowl. According to an alternate form of the present invention, the pivot shaft is provided at the toilet seat, and the knuckles are provided at the toilet bowl for receiving the pivot shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a toilet seat mounting structure according to the prior art.

[0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a toilet seat mounting structure according to the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2A is a sectional assembly view in an enlarged scale of the toilet seat mounting structure shown in FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternate form of the toilet seat mounting structure according to the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of another alternate form of the toilet seat mounting structure according to the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of still another alternate form of the toilet seat mounting structure according to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 6A is a sectional view of a part of still another alternate form of the toilet seat mounting structure according to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 6B is a sectional view of a part of still another alternate form of the toilet seat mounting structure according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 6C is a sectional view of a part of still another alternate form of the toilet seat mounting structure according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a toilet showing soft pad provided at the toilet seat according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 2A, the toilet seat, referenced by 10, has a pivot shaft 30 fixedly provided at the rear side detachably coupled to two knuckles 40 at a mounting plate 20, which is fixedly disposed at the top of the toilet bowl near the rear side. The pivot shaft 30 has two reduced portions 34 of oblong cross section 344 corresponding to the knuckles 40. The oblong cross section 344 of each reduced portion 34 has two smoothly arched and outwardly curved opposite short sides 342. The knuckles 40 each have an axially extended circular through hole 42, a gate 44 obliquely upwardly extended from the circular through hole 42 in radial direction, and chamfered edges 442 symmetrically disposed at two sides of the gate 44. The width of the gate 44 (i.e., the length between the two opposite long sides of the gate 44) is approximately equal to the thickness of the oblong cross section 344 of each reduced portion 34 of the pivot shaft 30. By means of aiming the smoothly arched and outwardly curved opposite short sides 342 of the reduced portions 34 at the gates 44 of the knuckles 30, the reduced portions 34 of the pivot shaft 30 can easily be inserted into the circular through hole 42. After insertion of the reduced portions 34 of the pivot shaft 30 can easily be inserted into the circular through hole 42, the toilet seat 10 is turned downwards and closely attached to the top of the toilet bowl, keeping the pivot shaft 30 secured to the knuckles 40. When wishing to detach the toilet seat 10 from the mounting plate 20 (the toilet bowl), lift the toilet seat 10 to a particular angle where the smoothly arched and outwardly curved opposite short sides 342 of the reduced portions 34 of the pivot shaft 30 are respectively aimed at the gates 44 of the knuckles 30, and then pull the toilet seat 10 outwards to move the pivot shaft 30 through the gates 44 of the knuckles 30 to the outside of the knuckles 40.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the positions knuckles 40 and the pivot shaft 30 are relatively changed, i.e., the pivot shaft 30 is provided at the mounting plate 20 and the knuckles 40 are made at the toilet seat 10 for coupling to the pivot shaft 30 at the mounting plate 20.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the mounting plate 20 comprises two knuckles 40 shaped like a stub barrel and axially aligned in a line, and two stop members 22 respectively disposed adjacent to the knuckles 40; the toilet seat 10 has two angled coupling rods 12 corresponding to the knuckles 40 at the mounting plate 20. During installation, the toilet seat 10 is held in vertical (perpendicular to the mounting plate 20 at the toilet bowl), and then toilet seat 10 is moved sideways to insert the angled coupling rods 12 into the knuckles 40. After insertion of the angled coupling rods 12 into the knuckles 40, the toilet seat 10 is lowered and closely attached to the top of the toilet bowl, keeping the angled coupling rods 12 respectively stopped against the stop members 22.

[0022]FIG. 5 shows still another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the mounting plate 20 (at the toilet bowl) cp, [roses two pivot shafts 30 horizontally disposed at different elevations, and two symmetrical pairs of knuckles 40 are respectively provided at the toilet seat 10 and the toilet set lid 50 for detachably coupling to the pivot shafts 30.

[0023]FIG. 6A is a sectional view of a part of still another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each recessed portion 34 of the pivot shaft 30 has a cross section shaped like the first quarter of the moon.

[0024]FIG. 6B is a sectional view of a part of still another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each recessed portion 34 of the pivot shaft 30 has a cross section shaped like the third quarter of the moon.

[0025]FIG. 6C a sectional view of a part of still another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, each recessed portion 34 of the pivot shaft 30 has a circular cross section; the gate 44 is a smoothly arched passage, having a width approximately equal to the diameter of the circular cross section of each recessed portion 34 of the pivot shaft 30.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 7, the toilet seat 10 may be covered with a soft pad 14 molded from thermal plastic rubber (TPR) or foamed material that gives a warm touch, comforting the user's hips.

[0027] A prototype of detachable toilet seat mounting structure has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 2˜7. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0028] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A detachable toilet seat mounting structure comprising a horizontally extended pivot means and a plurality of knuckles respectively provided at a toilet seat and a mounting plate being fixedly fastened to the top of a toilet bowl for detachably and pivotally securing said toilet seat to said mounting plate.
 2. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot means has a plurality of recessed portions respectively coupled to said knuckles for enabling said toilet seat to be turned about said pivot means; said knuckles each have a radially extended gate through which said recessed portions of said pivot means are respectively set into said knuckles into said knuckles when said toilet seat held in a predetermined angle relative to said mounting plate.
 3. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, said pivot means is provided at said mounting plate, and said knuckles are disposed at said toilet seat.
 4. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot means is provided at said toilet seat, and said knuckles are disposed at said mounting plate.
 5. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed 2, wherein said recessed portions of said pivot means have an oblong cross section, said oblong cross section having two smoothly arched and outwardly curved opposite short sides.
 6. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said recessed portions of said pivot means have a circular cross section; said gate of each said knuckle is a smoothly arched passage, having a width approximately equal to the diameter of the circular cross section of each said recessed portion.
 7. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gate of each said knuckle has a plurality of chamfered edges symmetrically disposed at two sides.
 8. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said knuckles are shaped like a stub barrel; said pivot means is comprised of two angled coupling rods respectively coupled to said knuckles.
 9. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mounting plate further comprises a plurality of stop members respectively disposed adjacent to said knuckles and adapted to support said angled coupling rods in said knuckles.
 10. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toilet seat has a top side mounted with a soft pad.
 11. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said soft pad is molded from thermal plastic rubber.
 12. The detachable toilet seat mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a horizontally extended second pivot means and a plurality of second knuckles respectively provided at a toilet seat lid and said mounting plate for detachably and pivotally securing said toilet seat lid to said mounting plate. 